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Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

reuters.com

21–30 of 82 posts

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#21

It's stalking and harassment incidents like these that I'm reminded of any time someone tells me they've got nothing to hide.

any time someone tells me they've got nothing to hide. Has anyone ever actually uttered that particular strawman argument to you? I think it may be the second most commonly used one.

Not a strawman at all, it's a very common attitude if you are not on HN or in a similar bubble. I heard it in person (verbatim, actually) about 5 days ago.

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#22
post #12
post #4

Impressive how they managed to nail seven underlings for doing it (five plead guilty; two went to trial[0]) but not CEO Devin Wenig for ordering[1] it, instead giving him a $57 million golden parachute straight into GM's Cruise. I wonder if Wenig being CEO of Thomson Reuters Markets from 2008 to 2011 has any effect on the way Reuters reports on this eBay scandal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devin_Wenig [0]: https:/…

"While there’s no suggestion in court papers that Wenig knew of the plot, prosecutors say his angry emails triggered the scheme, and they play a central role in the narrative spelled out by the government. "Take her down," Wenig is alleged to have written in response to a post by the blogger." That would be the smoking gun, but who's alleging it? Article didn't say.

Is that even a smoking gun? Surely that one text message is not enough to prove that he meant "harass and cyberstalk her" rather than "sue her for libel" or some other non-criminal action.

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#23
post #13
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is a reminder: If you are going to do unethical things, make sure you can prove that your bosses ordered it. Otherwise, in addition to being a rat, you will likely twist in the wind.

"Let's take this offline"

"Just to recap our conversation earlier..."

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#24
post #13
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is a reminder: If you are going to do unethical things, make sure you can prove that your bosses ordered it. Otherwise, in addition to being a rat, you will likely twist in the wind.

"Let's take this offline"

take the notes, conspicuously, and accompanied by several "come again please, i'm taking notes" if over the phone, ostensibly to make sure that you're doing it to carry the Leader's order in all the glorious details. Kind of James Comey or North Korea style. Years ago, an acquaintance, a former captain of Soviet Army who served at the place pretty intense even during the peace time, had some funny stories how such habit saved his bacon on various occasions and it made me remember that advice.

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#25
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"While there’s no suggestion in court papers that Wenig knew of the plot, prosecutors say his angry emails triggered the scheme, and they play a central role in the narrative spelled out by the government. "Take her down," Wenig is alleged to have written in response to a post by the blogger." That would be the smoking gun, but who's alleging it? Article didn't say.

"Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest? With a sword, ideally."

Appropriate quote, love the edit

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#26
post #9

I've been following this a little. I grew up near the Massachusetts town where this occurred (Its a pretty non-descript suburban town). So that fact that a big company and high up executives decided to target a very home spun news letter, is just crazy. Its like something went off the rails. Ars has pretty good coverage. The harassment was bizarre and threatening: sending roaches and pig masks is just the wierd start…

> a book on "how to survive the loss of a spouse" is really dark

That's evidence in some states....

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#27
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"While there’s no suggestion in court papers that Wenig knew of the plot, prosecutors say his angry emails triggered the scheme, and they play a central role in the narrative spelled out by the government. "Take her down," Wenig is alleged to have written in response to a post by the blogger." That would be the smoking gun, but who's alleging it? Article didn't say.

"Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest? With a sword, ideally."

The same thought occurred. And, even if prosecutors correctly thought that this was a waste of time to take to trial, GM saying nope "nothing here" doesn't, shall we say, impress me.

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#28
post #4

Impressive how they managed to nail seven underlings for doing it (five plead guilty; two went to trial[0]) but not CEO Devin Wenig for ordering[1] it, instead giving him a $57 million golden parachute straight into GM's Cruise. I wonder if Wenig being CEO of Thomson Reuters Markets from 2008 to 2011 has any effect on the way Reuters reports on this eBay scandal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devin_Wenig [0]: https:/…

Rich people don't go to jail.

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#29
post #13
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is a reminder: If you are going to do unethical things, make sure you can prove that your bosses ordered it. Otherwise, in addition to being a rat, you will likely twist in the wind.

"Let's take this offline"

I once worked on a startup founded by lawyers and they would do this all the time. Never put things in writing that they might be flexible on later. I hated that part.

Re: Former eBay employee gets 18 months in prison for cyberstalking campaign

#30

It's stalking and harassment incidents like these that I'm reminded of any time someone tells me they've got nothing to hide.

any time someone tells me they've got nothing to hide. Has anyone ever actually uttered that particular strawman argument to you? I think it may be the second most commonly used one.

my mother, my best friend, multiple co-workers and ex girlfriends. Even one person who grew up under the Warsaw Pact, and defected. He would say it, even when he did have something to hide, because he knew that the powers that be could always use something against you. Also known as CYA.
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